Job apps, test, and apartment hunting

So I applied for three more jobs yesterday. Two ER jobs at Valley. One part time and the other full time and a float nurse position at Holy. I had previously applied for two other cardiac part time positions, but they say sorry we don't want to interview you on their status'. I also went and looked at the Rosewood Apartments I have been meaning to. They are behind the Les Schwab off Sullivan. I definitely loved the 2 bedroom/ 2 bath apartment. It's about 900sf and $740/month. The let downs for the place are no carports, wait list on the garages which are $50/month, I didn't see any visitor parking, and there is no clubhouse for a fitness facility or pool. I really do like the apartment though. Definitely on my list.

I also finally got around to taking one of the 265 question practice test on my Pearson Vue CD. It took 2 1/2 hours and I ended up getting a 68%. I think that means I may not have passed. I did find out though while reviewing the questions that at least one of mine was right and they marked it wrong. I'll just have to keep practicing and hope for the best.

Avatar

I went to the movie Avatar last night. It was in the AMC's new IMAX theatre. Not as big as the real IMAX in Riverfront Park, but I don't think I could have handled it any bigger. The movie was also in 3D. It was very cool, but definetly made your brain work. We all kinda had headaches after the show. I basically felt like a had a hangover.

Still very cool and would suggest others go see the movie in 3D.

Christmas Tree Hunting

We went out to get our Christmas tree today. Blake, Mom, and Dad and I got up and left the house at 6:30. We went to Dean's for breakfast in Reardan before we went up to the property to hunt down a tree. We drove up, pulled off the gravel road and began our little hike to search for our tree. At least the snow wasn't as deep as last year. We were able to walk around fairly easily. It was a nice pretty hike. I didn't mind being up that early to do it. I hadn't been out the property since we had Fumi as a Japenese exchange student in 6th grade.





I spotted one up the hill. Blake and I went up to decide if it really was gonna be a well shaped Charlie Brown Tree and bring it down.



It was, so Blake went about cutting it down.





And we drug it back to the truck.




After we drug the tree back to the road my dad and brother finally showed me how to shoot my gun. It was my grandmother's and my dad had given it to me for a birthday a few years earlier. Now I know how to shoot it. My dad was proud and impressed by my shooting pattern. My brother also got to shoot his gun.





On the way home we got pulled over. Uh oh!! Apparently the tabs on the truck had expired earlier that month and the Airway Heights officer was bored.




Here are pictures of our tree in all its glory.

ACLS course

I did the Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) course today through SCC. There were about nine of us in the class. Yesterday I was lucky enough to have gotten to practice for five hours with Brandy's husband. He is a flight nurse with Medstar as well as an ACLS instructor. It was good to get the practice. It made today much easier. Especially since we are doing the course in one day instead of two.

We watched videos and then took a written test. Afterwards we had to go through a megacode simulation.

I passed the course. The instructor, Brian Lee, also told me I should contact Becky at the SHMC ER and tell her he said I should contact her. Maybe it will give me an in to the ER. He said they have positions that they don't always post. I'll have to try that.

Vegas and Dave Matthews

I don't know why this thing posts some of my pics sideways...

So I got to go to Vegas with Josh after graduation. We went with his friends Darin and his wife April and Darin's dad Scott. :) It was fun. We had to go through Seattle. The flight in though wasn't pleasant. My right ear would not clear. It was very painful. It finally just suddenly cleared as we landed. It was one of those rocking in pain sorta things. Anyways we got into Vegas around 1:00 on Friday. We stayed at Planet Hollywood since that is where the concert would be.



It was warmer in Vegas at like 40 degrees. However, it did end up raining the next few days that we were there. We walked around the first night trying to decide what show to see. nobody could decide on anything so we just walked around and ended up drinking at Cabo Wabo. Josh discovered the sweet tea vodka here. It was good. I am not much for sweet tea, but it was not overly sweet. It tastes just like tea. Totally dangerous. Darin and April left us to do some things so Josh, Scott and I walked around the indoor mall. It has a really cool painted sky so it looks like you are walking around outside. Later, we met up with Darin and April to go to the Strip House for dinner. I had the salmon. It had a foamy basil stuff around it. It was good though I think could have been better with a sauce instead of a foam. The potatoes ramanoff we had with it was awesome though. Dinner was like $400 for the five of us.



Later we went back to our rooms. First we watched the Bellagio fountains from Darin's room since it had the view of them.



After that I went and had a bath in the nice big tub in Joshs' and I hotel room. It was wonderful being able to stretch out. There was even room for another.



The next day Josh and I got up and walked around. He sorta drug me around so I could see things at rapid speed. He has seen it all and didn't really want to go. I got a couple poker chips from the M&M's shop. It has five stories to it.



We walked down and picked up Scott and went the other way on the strip so we could go see the Venetian. I wanted to see Madam Tousands (not sure how you spell that) wax museum, but Josh had seen it and didn't want to go. I didn't go cause I wouldn't have had anyone to take pictures of me with the stars and that would have been no fun. Maybe next time.



Josh also bought me some gelatto when we were wandering around. I picked Strawberry cheesecake. It was really really good.



Later that night is when we went to the concert we were in Vegas for. I borrowed a dress from Kelly's little sister Emily. It looked pretty hot on me.



Josh had sorta won the rights to buy some VIP tickets to a concert with Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds in an acoustic style concert.



With the VIP tickets we were given a buffet style dinner. Not so great. We were disappointed. The consensus was that the twinkies were the best part because they didn't have to cook those. Oh well. The concert was pretty good. There were a lot of VIP seats.



I went to the casino after and watched Roullette for a while. I should have played Black, but didn't. I really didn't gamble while I was there since I typically lose. Didn't stay up much longer since we had to be up earlier for our flight on Sunday. Good trip. Gotta go back with Kara or someone who wants to walk around and see everything.

Nursing Club end of Quarter Lunch

We had our lunch today at Chili's. It was nice to eat lunch with Steve and Raul. I was a little disappointed though. Stasia has always brought the Club officers a gift when they are graduating to the last lunch. I didn't get anything. :( Not sure what that was all about. Anyways, I have to get home and pack for Vegas. Leaving in the morning.

GRADUATION!!

So I graduated from Nursing School today. I was up till 1:30 this morning writing my speech. I was still not feeling too good about it. I met up with Camey, Bekah, Jen, and Tammy today at the Lincoln Center at 9am so we could decorate. Got that all done and had to go to school to get my second TB test read for WSU. I worked on the ending of my speech and re-wrote/finished it. I was feeling much better about it.

My parents and I went to dinner at Anthony's. They gave me a Journey Diamond Necklace for a graduation present. It's really pretty.

We went to the Lincoln Center and I got ready. It was fun. My speech went really really well. I got caught up in some of the words, but everyone laughed and gave me a ton of compliments afterwards. Kara recorded it so I will add a link to YouTube later. Here it is in written form.

We have come to the end of our shift here at SCC.
So as we all know it is time to document.
Let’s start with our I & O’s.
Our Intake and Output.
Our Gains and Losses.
The things we have taken in and things we’ve given out.

We have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge about nursing.
Even if sometimes we felt like we had lost our minds.

We have gained confidence in ourselves during clinicals.
Though we lost many hours away from family and friends.

We have gained new friends, and mentors.
And lost a few peers along the way.

We have gained a huge stack of textbooks.
And lost many hours of sleep studying from them.

Some of us have gained a lot of debt.
Though hopefully we soon will be gaining income.

We have all probably gained some weight….yes even me.
But at least we gained some great memories doing it.

And finally we have given out a tremendous amount of care and love for our patients.
Which I hope we never lose.

Remember it’s not only your patient’s I & O’s that matter.
It is important to measure our own gains and losses.
As we all know it is important to maintain balance and homeostasis in your body and in your life.
We all know what happens when things get off balance.
Seizure, coma, death.


Next let’s document our last set of vital signs.

Our blood pressure is probably the best it has been for the last twenty months. I’m sure we have all had spouts of hypertension with tests, quizzes, care plans, and papers.

Our pulse has slowed to a nice range between 60-100 beats per minute. While at times we have been tachycardic with unsure situations in clinical and waiting to get our grades.

Our oxygen saturation is at 98% on room air and respirations are at 16 breaths per minute now that we are no longer hyperventilating over how you really format an APA style paper.

Our temperature is normal. We are no longer hot and sweating during a clinical simulation test.

Finally we are at a 0 on that pain scale. All pointing to the happy face on the chart with the anticipation of graduating.


The last thing we document for a shift is the nurse’s note. So here is what it reads.

The students started off the shift nervous and excited with signs of confusion. As time went on anxiety levels rose. They were given Ativan in the form of knowledge. The Ativan was effective as the students were less anxious as they realized how much they actually did know. The students were put through many tests to help diagnose their knowledge levels. The tests were all within normal limits and showed no signs of abnormalities. Follow up with an NCLEX test is required to be sure the knowledge has been retained.

The students will be discharged this evening upon completion of graduation with newfound confidence and knowledge.

Finally we can hit F12 and log off.

As we log off and get ready to go let’s remember the Good parts of our shift, not dwell on the bad, and carry our new information and experiences into our next shift of life wherever that may take us.

Congratulations Class of December 2009. We made it!



Later, some of us went to the Season Ticket for drinks and so I could meet Juston who Camey and Owen are trying to set me up with. After that we met up with more people at Zola's. It was a fun night. Great for graduation.




Oh and by the way I also get to go to Vegas Friday morning with Josh! His friend Leah couldn't go so I get to. I am making out like a bandit this last week and a half. :)

Final

So I had my final today. Felt like the test danced around everything we studied. I hate that. The questions seem to not correlate. Oh well I know I didn't fail.

I still haven't written my speech. I keep putting it off. Better get started.

Oh and I also put off writing my speech by making a lai for my graduation cords to go with and decorating my hat. I bought snowflake garland and Kara brought her glitter over so I could do my hat. I put RN 2009 in glitter and glued jewels and jewel snowflakes on it. I made mini nursing hats to go on the snowflake garland too. I also bought mini LED lights that were battery powered and wrapped them around my hat so I could turn them on as we were graduating. It was awesome.

Graduation Practice/ Test Cramming

So today we had practice for graduation. Went down the the Lincoln Center and ran through the production. Still haven't finished writing my speech. Technically I haven't even started. I have ideas sorta written out in a list, but that's it. Yep, I'm still a procrastinator. And as another example of that I had not started studying for my final tomorrow. When we were done with graduation practice some of the girls (Camey, Tammy, Bekah, Jen, and Anna Marie) were gonna go do a study group. Camey invited me and so I decided to go. Otherwise I knew I would go home and clean or do something instead and put off studying till later. I am glad I went. We went to Jen's house. It was nice. We studied for nine hours. It was nice cause I also got to know some of the girls better. The funny thing is that I had not previously participated in a study group. This was my first one and ironically the last test. Oh well. Wish I would have done it sooner.

Sadly during the study session, Tammy, who works at SHMC, told me that she was told the float position I applied for was only hiring currently licensed nurses. Not new grads without licenses yet. Damn. Now I am down to hoping for the Cardiac. Guess I have to get looking again for other positions to apply for.

Friends of Pavillion Park Holiday Ball 2009

So my friend Josh works in Liberty Lake and attends and helps put on a holiday ball yearly at the Davenport Hotel. It's a night of auctions, dinner, and dancing. I wanted to go this year, just like every year. I got to go this year since he happened to break up with his girlfriend before the occasion. I wore the purple prom dress I bought from Mariposa for $20 when they closed. It was great because it was a dress I had wanted for senior prom, but it had cost $300 at the time so I wasn't able to buy it. I wore it to the ball and got so many compliments. It was really nice. I also got some glue on nails since I was done with clinicals. :)


Here is a pic of Josh and I by the tree.

We looked good. :) Anyways I always end up working for Josh when I go to these things. You are just about never only a date. I helped do the slide show during the auction and helped check people out for the items they won at auction. I got to work with Josh's mom to do this. It was nice getting to talk to her and stuff. She got to know me a little more that way.

Dessert was good too. Here is a pic. I loved the vanilla strawberry thing the best.


We stayed at the Davenport that night. Hadn't had the chance to stay before. Glad I got to go. :)

The Lion King

So Josh decided to take me to the Lion King Broadway Show at the Opera House for my graduation present. It was awesome. We had great seats towards the front in the middle. It was a really beautiful show. I even cried cause I thought it was beautiful. Dang emotions. Anyways, here are some pics that I took with my camera phone so they aren't good. You weren't allowed to take pictures.

This one is of the curtain before the show started.


This one is during the show, sorry it's blurry. Its the monkey by the tree.


Anyways I would definetly say see the show if you get a chance.

SHMC meet and greet

So I went to the SHMC graduation reception thing. I found out that the cardiac position is being filled internally first. DANG. So she said the positions that open up from moving 8 hr position people to the 12 will be open and she will review the applications for that. I still am not too hopeful about getting that. Maybe the float position will pan out. I also found out that SHMC has better benefits than HFH. You would think they would be the same being they are both Providence hospitals in the same city. SHMC starts at $24.75is per hour. You can get full benefits at 20 hours per week too. That is a major bonus. Anyways that is all I have to say about that.

Update on life

So I never heard from Vancouver. Apparently not getting to do that internship. Holy Family also emailed me today to tell me they have decided after reviewing staffing that they are not going to fill the ER position I applied for. I have found out that at least three other nursing students I know applied for the Cardiac position. Two of them work on that floor already. Probably won't get that job either. I really need a full time position. :(

There will be a little "party" at SHMC tomorrow for new graduates to meet with SHMC/HFH staff. So at least I will get a chance to try to kiss some butt and network. I also found out that the school will be offering a ACLS certification class on December 15th and 16th. It costs $160, but it will help up my application. Unfortunately, the people in my class who applied to the cardiac floor will also take it so who knows.

WSU sent me a packet to complete and return to them in a ten day time period. Yeah right! It had immunizations, forms, and background checks to pay for. They also wanted me to get my own passport photos for the school badge and stuff. I just have to get my test results read for my TB test at school tomorrow and will get that packet sent out.

I have also been working on stuff for graduation. Went shopping Sunday with Camey Anderson and Tammy Petro, two girls from class, for graduation decorations. We decided to do a winter theme and put up snowflakes. Our colors will be blue, white, silver, and black. I also got the paper to make the nursing hats for the graduates' chairs. My mom helped me make seventy of them. I also passed out everyone's pins to them for the pinning ceremony.

And finally, I have been wrapping up things for the Nursing Club. We wrapped all the presents I bought for the Tree of Sharing on Black Friday. It was an easy last meeting. I am going to have to figure out new officers after I graduate though. Oh well.